– could the space shuttle just fly into space like a plane, rather than being propelled vertically by rockets?

Question

– could the space shuttle just fly into space like a plane, rather than being propelled vertically by rockets?

In: 48

Answer 1

In theory yes, but it would take much too long and the required fuel world almost quintuple.

I can’t think of the name but nasa has a plane that rides up on the wing of a 747 then launches itself into lower orbit and returns.